CATHEPSIN-D ACTIVITY IN HUMAN OVARIAN TISSUES AND OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

OBJECTIVE: This study determined levels of cathepsin D activity in tis sue components of normal human ovary to establish a basis for comparis on with human ovarian adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Cathepsin D activity p er mg tissue, per mu g protein, and per mu g DNA was determined in hum an ovarian tissues (cortex, follicle, corpus luteum, corpus albicans) from patients of various ages and during the menstrual cycle. Levels o f cathepsin D activity were also determined in ovarian adenocarcinomas and other pathologic tissues. RESULTS: Cathepsin D levels (per mg tis sue) were significantly greater (P<.001) in ovarian follicle and corpu s luteum compared with cortex. Although there was not a clear correlat ion between enzyme activity in the cortex and day of the menstrual cyc le or patient age, levels of enzyme activity appeared to decrease with each parameter. Cathepsin D levels per mg tissue in ovarian adenocarc inoma were 40% higher than in postmenopausal ovarian cortex, but the d ifference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The diversity of cathepsin D levels in normal ovarian tissue components indicates t hat specific tissues must be used in comparisons with ovarian tumors.